SWOSU vs. VSU

Should I go to Southwestern Oklahoma State University or Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SWOSU or VSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

NSU Morgan State Bowie State University RU UCO-Central North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Delaware State University NWOSU Hampton University ECSU WSSU
Southwestern Oklahoma State University vs. Virginia State University comparison
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Southwestern Oklahoma State University Virginia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 SWOSU VSU
Location Weatherford, OK Petersburg, VA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,811 5,190
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1037 #930
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website swosu.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SWOSU VSU
Tuition (In State) $6,969 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $6,999 $17,038
Room & Board $7,410 $12,966
Avg Net Price $14,761 $16,184
Avg Grant Aid $8,745 $12,300
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

 SWOSU VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,689 10,577
Admitted 1,689 9,424
Acceptance Rate 100% 89.1%
Enrolled % 43.6% 15.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 2.85
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 14/20
SAT Range 800/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2026

Academics

 SWOSU VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (28%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 SWOSU VSU
Graduation Rate 33% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,600 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $15,687 $29,500
Median Loan Payment $162 $305

Diversity

 SWOSU VSU
% Men 4% 3%
% Women 13% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 67% 3%
% Black 5% 87%
% Hispanic 8% 2%
% Native American 4% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 0%
% International 5% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

 SWOSU VSU
% In-State 91% 66%
% Out-of-State 7% 33%

Campus

 SWOSU VSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia State University is larger than than SWOSU based on total student enrollment (5,190 students vs. 4,811 students)

SWOSU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWOSU or VSU?

  • Southwestern Oklahoma State University is 25.8% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($6,969.00 vs. $5,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 143.4% higher at VSU than Southwestern Oklahoma State University ($17,038.00 vs. $6,999.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwestern Oklahoma State University than VSU ($14,761 vs. $16,184)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University are 75% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($7,410 vs. $12,966)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern Oklahoma State University than Virginia State University (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 40.7% larger than aid received Southwestern Oklahoma State University ($12,300 vs. $8,745)

SWOSU vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWOSU or VSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VSU or SWOSU .

  • The average SAT score at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (990) is 133 points higher than at VSU (857)
  • Incoming SWOSU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at VSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman SWOSU students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at VSU (2.85)
  • SWOSU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than VSU (89.1%)

SWOSU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SWOSU or VSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VSU and SWOSU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Southwestern Oklahoma State University (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern Oklahoma State University earn on average $11,900 more per year than VSU graduates after ten years. ($48,600 vs. $36,700)
  • Southwestern Oklahoma State University students graduate with a $13,813 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($15,687 vs. $29,500)
  • SWOSU graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($162 vs. $305)
  • More SWOSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/